Larry G. Williams

Larry Williams joined Peace River Center in May 2022 and serves as Chief Executive Officer and President. Larry accepted the role after a remarkable 34-year career at the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, with 17 of those years in senior and executive management. Larry’s commitment to this community started at a young age as he worked his way through every rank from part-time Deputy Sheriff to Chief of the Department of Law Enforcement. Larry has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Troy University, a Bachelor’s Degree in Organizational Management from Warner University, and an Associate’s Degree from Polk State College. He is a graduate of Florida State University’s Certified Public Manager Program, the FBI National Academy Class 260, the Southern Police Institute 114th Administrative Officers Course, and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP). Throughout his career and personal investment in their community, he has witnessed, firsthand, the impact of mental health needs and crises, how substance abuse destroys lives, and how victim services can restore a person’s sense of value to allow them to take charge of their future, and how stigma plays a role in accessing care.